U.S. patent application number 14/684491 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-13 for closable container.
The applicant listed for this patent is APLIX INC. Invention is credited to John BUMGARNER.
Application Number | 20160297581 14/684491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55701968 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160297581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BUMGARNER; John |
October 13, 2016 |
CLOSABLE CONTAINER
Abstract
A closable container is provided, including a first wall of
flexible material having a first interior face, a second wall of
flexible material having a second interior face, the first and
second walls being laterally opposed and arranged to form an
interior volume of the closable container with the first interior
wall and the second interior wall at least partially defining the
interior volume, a first cooperative panel having a first
cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating
face, at least a portion of the first cooperating face comprising a
first fastener element, and a second cooperative panel having a
second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the
second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a
second fastener element configured to engage with the first
fastener element to form an interlocking connection, the second
fastener element being substantially identical to the first
fastener element. The first joining face is joined to the first
interior face at a first joint and the second joining face is
joined to the second interior face at a second joint, at least one
of the first and second joints being narrower than a width of the
respective first or second cooperative panel.
Inventors: |
BUMGARNER; John; (Maiden,
NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
APLIX INC |
CHARLOTTE |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55701968 |
Appl. No.: |
14/684491 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/06 20130101;
B65D 17/4011 20180101; B65D 33/007 20130101; B65D 33/24 20130101;
B65D 43/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/06 20060101
B65D050/06; B65D 33/00 20060101 B65D033/00; B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00; B65D 43/22 20060101 B65D043/22; B65D 33/24 20060101
B65D033/24 |
Claims
1. A closable container, comprising: a first wall of flexible
material having a first interior face; a second wall of flexible
material having a second interior face, the first and second walls
being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of
the closable container with the first interior wall and the second
interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume; a
first cooperative panel having a first cooperating face and a first
joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of
the first cooperating face comprising a first fastener element; and
a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a
second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the
second cooperating face comprising a second fastener element
configured to engage with the first fastener element to form an
interlocking connection, the second fastener element being
substantially identical to the first fastener element, wherein the
first joining face is joined to the first interior face at a first
joint and the second joining face is joined to the second interior
face at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints
being narrower than a width of the respective first or second
cooperative panel.
2. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of the first and second joints is positioned away from a
longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second
cooperative panel.
3. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the first
fastener element comprises a first plurality of hooked protrusions
and the second fastener element comprises a second plurality of
hooked protrusions, each hooked protrusion of the second plurality
of hooked protrusions being substantially identical to each hooked
protrusion of the first plurality of hooked protrusions.
4. The closable container according to claim 3, wherein each hooked
protrusion has a single shank from which two mutually opposed
engaging portions extend.
5. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein only one of
the first or second joining face is joined to the respective first
or second inner wall over an entire width of the respective first
or second cooperative panel.
6. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein both the
first and second joints are narrower than a width of the respective
first and second cooperative panel, and each of the first and
second joints are positioned away from a longitudinal axis of
symmetry of the respective first or second cooperative panel.
7. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the first
and second joint are at least one of an ultrasonic weld, an
adhesive joint and a heat seal.
8. The closable container according to claim 1, comprising a first
pull-tab joined to an exterior face of the first wall and a second
pull-tab joined to an exterior face of the second wall.
9. The closable container according to claim 8, wherein the first
and second pull-tabs are positioned away from the first and second
cooperating panels and toward a bottom of the container.
10. The closable container according to claim 1, further comprising
a bottom wall affixed to the first and second walls to define the
interior volume.
11. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the
flexible material is a plastic material selected from one of
polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene.
12. A closable container, comprising: a first wall of flexible
material having a first interior face; a second wall of flexible
material having a second interior face, the first and second walls
being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of
the closable container with the first interior wall and the second
interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume; a
first cooperative panel having a cooperating face and a first
joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of
the cooperating face comprising a first plurality of hooked
protrusions; a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating
face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating
face, the second cooperating face comprising a second plurality of
hooked protrusions configured to engage with the first plurality of
hooked protrusions to form an interlocking connection, wherein each
hooked protrusion of the first and second plurality of hooked
protrusions has a single shank from which two mutually opposed
engaging portions extend, the first joining face being joined to
the first interior face at a first joint and the second joining
face being joined to the second interior face at a second joint;
and a first pull-tab affixed to an exterior face of the first wall
at a position away from the first joint, and a second pull-tab
affixed to an exterior face of the second wall at a position away
from the second joint, wherein the first and second joints are
configured such that when a tensile force is exerted upon one or
both of the first and second pull-tabs, the interlocking connection
may be disengaged without substantial force being exerted on the
first and second plurality of hooked protrusions.
13. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein both the
first and second joints are narrower than a width of the respective
first and second cooperative panel, and each of the first and
second joints are positioned away from a longitudinal axis of
symmetry of the respective first or second cooperative panel.
14. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein the first
and second joints are configured such that exerting a tensile force
on a top portion of the first and second walls results in a force
being exerted on the first and second interlocking connection.
15. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein the first
and second joint are at least one of an ultrasonic weld, an
adhesive joint and a heat seal.
16. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein each of
the two mutually opposed engaging portions extend away from the
shank in a direction substantially parallel to a lateral axis of
the first and second cooperative panels.
17. The closable container according to claim 12, further
comprising a bottom wall affixed to the first and second wall to
define the interior volume.
18. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein the
flexible material is a plastic material selected from one of
polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene.
19. A child resistant, closable container, comprising: a bag of
flexible material having an opening with a first interior wall of
the bag and a second interior wall of the bag at least partially
defining the opening; a closure device configured to close the
opening, the closure device being of an automatically gripping
type, comprising a first cooperative panel having a cooperating
face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating face, at
least a portion of the cooperating face comprising a first fastener
element, and a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating
face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating
face, the second cooperating face comprising a second fastener
element, the first and second fastener elements being substantially
identical to one another, wherein the first joining face is joined
to the first interior wall of the bag at a first joint and the
second joining face being joined to the second interior wall of the
bag at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints
being positioned asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis
of symmetry of the first and/or second cooperative panel; a first
pull-tab affixed to an exterior portion of the bag opposite the
first interior wall; and a second pull-tab affixed to an exterior
portion of the bag opposite the second interior wall, wherein
application of a tensile force to the first pull-tab and/or the
second pull-tab result in opening of the closure device without
substantial force being exerted on the first and second fastener
elements.
20. The child-resistant, closable container according to claim 19,
wherein the closure device is of a hook-in-hook type, and the first
fastener element comprises a first plurality of hooked protrusions
and the second fastener element comprises a second plurality of
hooked protrusions, each hooked protrusion of the second plurality
of hooked protrusions being substantially identical to each hooked
protrusion of the first plurality of hooked protrusions.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The disclosure relates to closable containers, and more
particularly, to a child-resistant, re-closable container.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Many products available on the market can be harmful to
children, particularly young children under the age of three who
may attempt to ingest or otherwise introduce such products into
their bodies. Therefore, many industries have sought to limit the
ability of young children to open packages containing harmful
products.
[0003] Various types of child resistant packaging has been used to
date, including, for example, squeeze and twist capped bottles,
push-capped bottles, etc. However, these packages can be expensive
to manufacture and can also present difficulties to certain adults
trying to open such packages.
[0004] US 2014/0161374 discloses child-resistant plastic or
polymeric containers with re-closable zippers. This is achieved by
a zipper with a high internal opening force and a low external
opening force, wherein three flanges are sealed to the bag walls,
and one external flange is left unsealed. In order to encounter the
low external opening force, the user must grab the unsealed
external flange while applying an external opening force to the
zipper.
[0005] It is accordingly a primary object of the disclosure to
provide a child-resistant, re-closable container, that is simpler
to manufacture and less difficult for adults to open.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] In accordance with the disclosure, a closable container is
provided. The closable container includes a first wall of flexible
material having a first interior face, a second wall of flexible
material having a second interior face, the first and second walls
being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of
the closable container with the first interior wall and the second
interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume, a
first cooperative panel having a first cooperating face and a first
joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of
the first cooperating face comprising a first fastener element, and
a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a
second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the
second cooperating face comprising a second fastener element
configured to engage with the first fastener element to form an
interlocking connection, the second fastener element being
substantially identical to the first fastener element. The first
joining face is joined to the first interior face at a first joint
and the second joining face is joined to the second interior face
at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints
being narrower than a width of the respective first or second
cooperative panel.
[0007] By providing such a closable container, it may be possible
to limit the ability to open the container depending on a location
on the container where opening force is exerted. Effectively, a
shear condition may result from the one or more narrower joints
based on where the opening force is applied. Therefore, a child,
for example, a young child who may lack the cognitive skills to
determine where to apply the force from opening the container, may
be prevented from opening such a container. This may be useful when
the container contains harmful substances, for example. Further, by
utilizing cooperative panels having substantially identical
fastener elements, manufacturing can be simplified such that only
one type of cooperative panel, for example, manufactured as a
continuous strand or a non-continuous strand, that is produced and
cut to length.
[0008] At least one of the first and second joints may be
positioned away from a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the
respective first or second cooperative panel.
[0009] The first fastener element may include a first plurality of
hooked protrusions and the second fastener element may include a
second plurality of hooked protrusions, each hooked protrusion of
the second plurality of hooked protrusions may be substantially
identical to each hooked protrusion of the first plurality of
hooked protrusions.
[0010] Each hooked protrusion may have a single shank from which
two mutually opposed engaging portions extend.
[0011] Only one of the first or second joining face may be joined
to the respective first or second inner wall over an entire width
of the respective first or second cooperative panel.
[0012] Both the first and second joints may be narrower than a
width of the respective first and second cooperative panel, and
each of the first and second joints may be positioned away from a
longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second
cooperative panel.
[0013] The first and second joint may be at least one of an
ultrasonic weld, an adhesive joint and a heat seal.
[0014] The closable container may include a first pull-tab joined
to an exterior face of the first wall and a second pull-tab joined
to an exterior face of the second wall.
[0015] At least one of the first pull-tab and the second pull-tab
may be integrally formed with the first and second wall,
respectively.
[0016] The first and second pull-tabs may be positioned away from
the first and second cooperating panels and toward a bottom of the
container.
[0017] The closable container may include a bottom wall affixed to
the first and second walls to define the interior volume.
[0018] The flexible material may be a plastic material selected
from one of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and
polypropylene or a combination thereof.
[0019] According to further embodiments, a closable container is
provided. The closable container includes a first wall of flexible
material having a first interior face, a second wall of flexible
material having a second interior face, the first and second walls
being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of
the closable container with the first interior wall and the second
interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume, a
first cooperative panel having a cooperating face and a first
joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of
the cooperating face comprising a first plurality of hooked
protrusions, and a second cooperative panel having a second
cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the second
cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a second
plurality of hooked protrusions configured to engage with the first
plurality of hooked protrusions to form an interlocking connection,
wherein each hooked protrusion of the first and second plurality of
hooked protrusions has a single shank from which two mutually
opposed engaging portions extend. The first joining face is joined
to the first interior face at a first joint and the second joining
face being joined to the second interior face at a second joint. A
first pull-tab affixed to an exterior face of the first wall at a
position away from the first joint, and a second pull-tab affixed
to an exterior face of the second wall at a position away from the
second joint are also provided. The first and second joints are
configured such that when a tensile force is exerted upon one or
both of the first and second pull-tabs, the interlocking connection
may be disengaged without substantial force being exerted on the
first and second plurality of hooked protrusions.
[0020] Both the first and second joints may be narrower than a
width of the respective first and second cooperative panel, and
each of the first and second joints may be positioned away from a
longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second
cooperative panel.
[0021] The first and second joints may be configured such that
exerting a tensile force on a top portion of the first and second
walls results in a force being exerted on the first and second
interlocking connection.
[0022] The first and second joint may be selected from at least one
of an ultrasonic weld, an adhesive joint and a heat seal.
[0023] Each of the two mutually opposed engaging portions may
extend away from the shank in a direction substantially parallel to
a lateral axis of the first and second cooperative panels.
[0024] The closable container may also include a bottom wall
affixed to the first and second wall to define the interior
volume.
[0025] The flexible material may be a plastic material selected
from one of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and
polypropylene or a combination thereof.
[0026] According to still further embodiments of the present
disclosure, a child resistant, closable container is provided. The
container includes a bag of flexible material having an opening
with a first interior wall of the bag and a second interior wall of
the bag at least partially defining the opening, a closure device
configured to close the opening, the closure device being of an
automatically gripping type, comprising a first cooperative panel
having a cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the
cooperating face, at least a portion of the cooperating face
comprising a first fastener element, and a second cooperative panel
having a second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite
the second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising
a second fastener element, the first and second fastener elements
being substantially identical to one another, wherein the first
joining face is joined to the first interior wall of the bag at a
first joint and the second joining face being joined to the second
interior wall of the bag at a second joint, at least one of the
first and second joints being positioned asymmetrically with
respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the first and/or
second cooperative panel, a first pull-tab affixed to an exterior
portion of the bag opposite the first interior wall, and a second
pull-tab affixed to an exterior portion of the bag opposite the
second interior wall. Application of a tensile force to the first
pull-tab and/or the second pull-tab result in opening of the
closure device without substantial force being exerted on the first
and second fastener elements.
[0027] The closure device may be of a hook-in-hook type, and the
first fastener element may include a first plurality of hooked
protrusions while the second fastener element includes a second
plurality of hooked protrusions. Each hooked protrusion of the
second plurality of hooked protrusions may be substantially
identical to each hooked protrusion of the first plurality of
hooked protrusions.
[0028] Except where otherwise contradictory, it is intended that
combinations of the above features may be made without departing
from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0029] Additional objects and advantages of the disclosure will be
set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the disclosure. The objects and advantages of the disclosure
will be realized and attained by means of the elements and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
[0030] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one (several)
embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a representation of an exemplary child-resistant,
re-closable container according to embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a representation of an exemplary child-resistant,
re-closable container according to further embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a representation of an exemplary child-resistant,
re-closable container according to still further embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a portion of a
cooperative panel according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing two of the cooperative panels of
FIG. 4 engaging one another to form an interlocking connection.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a representation of an exemplary child-resistant,
re-closable container 100 according to embodiments of the present
disclosure. Container 100 may include a first wall 105 of flexible
material having a first interior face 120, a second wall 110 of
flexible material having a second interior face 125, a first
cooperative panel 130, and a second cooperative panel 131. In
addition, container 100 may include one or more pull tabs 145.
[0039] First and second walls 105 and 110, respectively, may be
laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume 210 of
the closable container 100 with the first interior wall 120 and the
second interior wall 125 at least partially defining the interior
volume 210. In addition, edge portions of the first and second
walls 105 and 110 may define an opening 115 of container 100, while
a junction between first and second walls 105 and 110 may form a
bottom 200 of container 100. Alternatively, where desired, an
additional bottom wall 205 may be joined to first wall 105 and
second wall 110 to form a bottom 200 of container 100. Such a joint
may be formed by way of adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding,
etc.
[0040] For purposes of understanding the present disclosure,
opening 115 will be assumed to comprise the highest portion of
container 100, while bottom 200 shall be assumed to comprise the
lowest point of container 100. Therefore, when the relative term
"above" is used it shall be taken to mean "toward the opening 115,"
while the relative term "below" shall be taken to mean "toward the
bottom 200." One of skill will recognize that the definitions of
the relative terms "above" and "below" apply even where container
100 is inverted.
[0041] The flexible material forming each of first and second walls
105 and 110 may comprise any suitable material, for example, a
polyethylene (PE), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polypropylene, and any combination thereof. Additionally, first and
second walls 105 and 110 may be of any suitable size and shape, for
example, corresponding to a product to be contained therein.
According to some embodiments a monolayer film or a multilayer film
may be implemented.
[0042] Cooperative panels 130 and 131 may each present a
cooperating face 7 and a joining face 8, joining face 8 being
opposite the cooperative face (reference numerals shown only at
FIG. 4 for clarity of the Figures). Each cooperating face 7 of
cooperative panels 130 and 131 includes a fastener element
configured to form an interlocking connection with the other
cooperative panel 130 or 131. According to some embodiments, the
fastener elements of each of the cooperative panels 130 and 131 are
identical. For example, a hook in hook type engagement could be
implemented in which cooperating face 7 of cooperative panel 130
may include a plurality of hooks 1, while cooperating face 7 of
cooperative panel 131 may also include a plurality of hooks 1, such
hooks 1 being substantially identical to hooks 1 of cooperative
panel 130. Such hooks 1, when acting together, may engage one
another resulting in an interlocking connection as shown at FIG. 5.
Alternatively, other fastener elements may be implemented. For
example, a continuous fastener element stamped or not stamped, such
as a zipper type fastener or a non-continuous fastener element
resulting from for example, a continuous element that is cut.
[0043] Each cooperative panel 130 and 131 may be joined by its
respective joining face 8 to an interior face 120 and 125 of the
first and second walls 105 and 110 at one or more joints 135.
According to some embodiments, a joint spanning an entire surface
of only a cooperative panel's joining face may be provided for only
one of the cooperative panels 130 or 131.
[0044] Each cooperative panel 130 and 131 may be positioned along a
vertical axis Y, such that an axis of symmetry S of each of the
first and second cooperative panels 130 and 131 are coincident such
that upon exerting a force causing first and second walls 105 and
110 to move toward one another, i.e., a closing force along the
axis X, fastener elements of cooperative panels 130 and 131 are
entrained to engage one another in an interlocking connection. One
of skill in the art will recognize that in order to achieve such an
interlocking connection, various offsets may be implemented with
regard to positioning of first and second cooperative panels 130
and 131 with respect to vertical axis Y, the present description
being exemplary only.
[0045] Such a joining may be accomplished using one or more joints
135 that may be any of an ultrasonic weld joint, an adhesive joint,
a heat seal joint, or any other suitable joint.
[0046] At least one joint 135 may have a width W.sub.j that is
narrower than a width W.sub.p of the respective first or second
cooperative panel 130 and 131. In other words, where first
cooperative panel 130 has a width of W.sub.p, and first cooperative
panel 130 is joined to a first interior wall 125 of first wall 105,
at a joint 136, width W.sub.j of the joint 135 is less than width
W.sub.p. For example, a joint 136 of reduced width may have a width
W.sub.j equal to between 1 and 95 percent of a total width W.sub.p
of a cooperative panel, in particular, equal to between 20 and 65
percent of a total width W.sub.p of a cooperative panel, in some
embodiment equal to between 5 and 45 percent of a total width
W.sub.p of a cooperative panel.
[0047] A joint 136 of reduced width present on at least one of the
first and second cooperative panels 130 and/or 131 may be
positioned away from a longitudinal axis of symmetry S of the
respective first and/or second cooperative panel 130 and 131. In
other words, a joint 136 of reduced width may be placed at an
offset distance D away from axis of symmetry S to result in a free
edge 137 of first and/or second cooperative panel 130 and 131,
thereby resulting in asymmetric positioning with respect to
longitudinal axis of symmetry S of the first and/or second
cooperative panel 130 and 131.
[0048] According to some embodiments the joint 136 having a reduced
width W.sub.j may be present at only one edge of first and/or
second cooperative panel 130 and 131, so as to create a proximal
edge at joint 136 and a distal edge at an edge opposite the
proximal edge, i.e., at joint 136, for example, as shown at FIG. 1.
In such embodiment, the strength to open the re-closable container
100 is higher from the top than the strength to open the
re-closable container 100 from the bottom, by one or both pull tabs
145.
[0049] Importantly, joint 136 may also be provided offset from an
edge of cooperative panel 130 and/or 131, as shown at FIG. 2.
[0050] For example, a first joint 135 between first joining face 7
of first cooperative panel 131 and first interior wall 120 may be
provided over substantially an entire width W.sub.p of first
cooperative panel 130, while a second joint 136 having a reduced
width of W.sub.j between joining face 7 of second cooperative panel
131 and second interior wall 125 may be provided below (i.e.,
toward bottom 200 of container 100) axis of symmetry S.
[0051] According to further embodiments, for example, as shown at
FIG. 3, joint 136 of width W.sub.j may be provided for on both
first cooperative panel 130 and second cooperative panel 131, and
each joint 136 may coincide at least partially with the edge of its
respective cooperative panel, or may be offset from the edge. Where
each cooperative panel has a joint 136 of reduced width W.sub.j,
any suitable placement for such joints 136 may be implemented,
understanding that it may be desirable to provide such joints 136
at a distance D from an axis of symmetry of cooperative panels 130
and 131. For example, one reduced width joint 136 may be aligned
with an edge of its respective cooperative panel, while the other
may be offset from its respective edge by a distance O.
[0052] As additionally shown at FIG. 3, it may also be desirable to
provide a first joint 136 of reduced width W.sub.j between first
joining face 7 of first cooperative panel 131 and first interior
wall 120 at an asymmetric location (i.e., above or below axis of
symmetry S) with respect to axis of symmetry S, while a second
joint 136 having a reduced width of W.sub.j between joining face 7
of second cooperative panel 131 and second interior wall 125 may
also be provided at an asymmetric location (i.e., above or below)
with respect axis of symmetry S. One of skill will recognize that
such an asymmetric location may be below axis of symmetry S for one
of joints 136, while the other joint 136 may be positioned
asymmetrically above axis of symmetry S.
[0053] One or more pull tabs 145 may be provided and joined to
exterior faces of first and/or second wall 105 and 110 and be
configured to allow application of a tensile force F to first
and/or second wall 105 and 110. Pull-tabs 145 may be formed
integrally with walls 105 and/or 110, or alternatively, joined to
walls 105 and/or 110 for example, by heat sealing, ultrasonic
welding, adhesive, etc.
[0054] For example, fabric pull-tabs 145 may be provided based on a
particular design and application, with such fabric pull-tabs 145
being affixed via an adhesive to exterior portions of walls 105 and
110. Alternatively, other materials, such as plastics may be used
to form pull-tabs 145, particularly when pull-tabs 145 are formed
integrally with container 100. For example, a material and/or strip
(s) (rib(s)) that may help the user grip the pull tabs may be
provided.
[0055] Pull tabs 145 may be positioned away from the first and
second cooperating panels, for example, toward a bottom 200 of the
container 100. By positioning pull tabs 145 in this way, a tensile
force is exerted upon one or both of the first and second pull-tabs
results in the interlocking connection being disengaged without
substantial force, e.g., a substantial shear force, peeling force,
tensile force, or a combination thereof, being exerted on fasteners
elements, e.g., a first and second plurality of hooked protrusions.
In other words, an interlocking engagement between fastener
elements can be undone without the fastener elements being
subjected to forces large enough to cause damage thereto. By
configuring pull tabs 145 in this way, a child who may be inclined
to open a container 100 from a lip formed at opening 115 may not
have sufficient strength to do so, while an adult who recognizes
that the pull tabs should be pulled, can open container 100 with
relative ease.
[0056] Turning to FIG. 4, a schematic representation of a portion
of a cooperative panel 130/131 according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure is shown. Each cooperative panel 130 and 131 may
include a plurality of fastening elements 1, these elements, for
example, comprising hooks 1. Hooks 1 may be substantially identical
to one another on all cooperative panels 130 and 131.
[0057] Hooks 1 may be fixed by way of adhesive-bonding or any other
means (thermal or ultrasound welding, etc.) to a cooperating face 7
of cooperative panels 130, while a joining face 8 of each
cooperative panel 130, 131 remains void of such fastening elements.
Alternatively, hooks 1 may be formed integrally with cooperative
panels 130, 131, for example, by way of an extrusion molding or
profile extrusion.
[0058] According to some embodiments, a conventional system or
process referred to as REPLA or De Navas (see U.S. Pat. No.
4,056,593) may be implemented. In such a system/process, ribs can
be produced by means of extrusion having, in cross-section, the
shape of the final double hook desired. These extruded ribs can
then be cut in a transverse direction, for example, a perpendicular
direction (or with an angle less than 20 degrees to form hooks in
staggered repartition), relative to the extension direction of the
ribs (which direction substantially corresponds to the direction of
the rows). The knife cuts can be offset by a dimension which
corresponds to the thickness which it is desirable to obtain for
each hook 1 at the end.
[0059] After the cut has been made, the sheet is drawn in order to
draw a cooperative panel and separate the hooks from each other, as
previously formed by the cut.
[0060] The final product thereby obtained is illustrated in FIG. 4.
It will be understood that the thickness of hooks 1 on a given
strip may not necessarily be constant. The thickness of the hooks 1
of the first hooked element is not necessarily equal to the
thickness of the hooks of the second hooked element. In the same
manner, the distances between hooks may not be constant over the
entire row, nor over the entire strip.
[0061] Hooks 1 may have two left and right extension portions which
form hook projections 13 and 14 protruding laterally to one side
and the other in a direction perpendicular relative to the
direction of the rows of the upper portion of the shank 10, i.e.,
mutually opposed to one another. According to some embodiments,
each hooked protrusion may have only a single shank 10 from which
two mutually opposed engaging portions extend.
[0062] Projections 13 and 14 may form the engaging portions of each
hook 1. In each row of hooks, hooks 1 are arranged spaced apart
from each other. This distance between hooks, measured by the
distance in the region of the base (or the upper surface of the
cooperative panel) of shank 10 between the mutually facing planar
lateral surfaces of a hook and an adjacent hook in the same row,
respectively, and measured in the direction of the row, is
designated d in FIG. 4. This distance d is greater than or equal to
the thickness e of the hooks 1, on the cooperating face 7.
[0063] Hooks 1 may be offset in the extension direction of a row
relative to the hooks of an adjacent row by a predetermined
distance which may be generally less than a thickness of the hooks,
but greater than or equal to a ratio of the distance between hooks
1 divided by the number of rows (d/n, where n is the number of rows
of hooks 1).
[0064] According to some embodiments, the thickness e of the hooks
1 may be between 0.1 and 1.3 mm, and may in some examples be 0.3
mm. A height i.e., the vertical distance of the shank 10 from the
base up to its top, may be between 0.3 and 1.5 mm. The cooperative
panel may have a thickness of, for example, between 0.1 mm and 0.5
mm, and 0.16 mm according to some examples.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing two of the cooperative panels of
FIG. 4 engaging one another to form an interlocking connection,
i.e., a closed position of container 100.
[0066] One of skill in the art will recognize that variations may
be made to structures and methods described herein. For example,
according to some embodiments, seals 140 may be provided at one or
more locations along the cooperative panels and/or on walls of
container 100 to aid in sealing container 100 when an interlocking
connection between the cooperative panels has been achieved. For
example, such seals may comprise one or more flexible undulations
configured to interact (e.g., interleave) with undulations present
on another cooperative panel and/or wall of container 100 so as to
create a liquid and/or air tight seal. The first and/or second
cooperative panel could comprise strips 140 in order to avoid the
welding of the first and second cooperative panels together. In
particular, these strips could comprise a cross sectional having a
triangular form, for example.
[0067] According to further embodiments of the disclosure, the
first and/or second cooperative panel could each comprise at least
two parts, a base comprising the fastener element and a plate
affixed to the first and/or second wall of flexible material.
[0068] According to still further embodiments, the first and/or
second cooperative panels could each be affixed to a plate
belonging respectively to the first and/or second wall of flexible
material.
[0069] In an alternative of the embodiment of FIG. 3, the joints
136 of the first and second cooperative panels 130 and 131 could be
positioned on the same side of the longitudinal axis of symmetry S
of the respective first and/or second cooperative panel 130 and
131, for example, below the axis of symmetry S or above the axis of
symmetry S.
[0070] According to still further embodiments, one and/or both of
the pull tabs 145 may be configured so as to not attract the
attention of a child. For example, pull tabs 145 could be
maintained respectively parallel to the first interior wall 120
and/or the second interior wall 125. In such a case, the pull tabs
could comprise fastener elements (hooks--hooks fastener,
hooks--loops fastener, male-female profile, male-male profile,
adhesive, . . . ) to maintain the pull tabs 145 sensibly parallel
to the respective first and second walls 120, 125 until time of
use, when they may be separated and pulled to open container
100.
[0071] According to further embodiments (not shown), one or more of
the pull tabs 145 may be removable from the respective first and/or
second walls 105 and 110. Container 100 may comprise coupling means
between such removable pull tab(s) 145 and the respective first
and/or second walls. Such coupling means may comprise, for example,
fastener elements (e.g., hooks-hooks fastener, hooks-loops
fastener, male-female profile, male-male profile, etc.), adhesives,
and combinations thereof. The one or more removable pull tabs 145
may be joined to the wall such that a resistance to shear force
and/or a tensile force or a combination thereof, is higher than a
force need to open container 100, but having a low resistance to
peeling force, thereby allowing the removable pull tab(s) 145 to be
to easily removed from the wall when desired.
[0072] According to some embodiments, one of skill in the art could
implement the systems described herein in the domain of pour spouts
for a closable container or re-closable container.
[0073] Throughout the description, including the claims, the term
"comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with
"comprising at least one" unless otherwise stated. In addition, any
range set forth in the description, including the claims should be
understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated.
Specific values for described elements should be understood to be
within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one
of skill in the art, and any use of the terms "substantially"
and/or "approximately" and/or "generally" should be understood to
mean falling within such accepted tolerances, unless otherwise
specified herein.
[0074] Where any standards of national, international, or other
standards body are referenced (e.g., ISO, etc.), such references
are intended to refer to the standard as defined by the national or
international standards body as of the priority date of the present
specification. Any subsequent substantive changes to such standards
are not intended to modify the scope and/or definitions of the
present disclosure and/or claims.
[0075] It is intended that the specification and examples be
considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure
being indicated by the following claims.
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